Unemployment and crime: the role of apprehension

An increase in the unemployment rate decreases the opportunity cost of crime and increases the crime rate according to standard microeconomics models. However, a large body of empirical research has shown that an increase in unemployment may increase or decrease crime. By incorporating the return to crime into standard economic models, this paper shows that an increase in unemployment, as in recessions, decreases the opportunity cost of crime and the return to crime as well. As a result, the effect of unemployment on crime is ambiguous and depends on the apprehension rate. An increase in the unemployment rate tends to decrease the crime rate at lower apprehension rates, but to increase it at higher apprehension rates. An increase in the generosity of unemployment insurance benefits does not necessarily reduce the crime rate, and the effect of more generous unemployment insurance on crime depends again on the apprehension rate.     

两岸青年持续合作的动力与机制

随着两岸关系发展的新进程,两岸青年交流呈现出机制化、品牌化、多主题、多渠道等交流趋势,取得积极成效的同时却也存在交流动力不足和认知偏差等障碍.两岸青年交流在一个不断变化的环境中得以持续合作的动力主要来自于:信任、利益联结、社团合作和文化认同等要素的激活,实践中则要依靠对话机制、教育交流机制、文化整合机制、可持续机制和激励机制的制度设计和建设才能实现.     

2021年国际安全形势:不稳定因素增加不确定风险上升

2021年,世界变局加速演进,国际安全形势总体稳定,但内部张力持续增加,加之新冠肺炎疫情继续蔓延,国际安全秩序受到考验和冲击,国际安全中不稳定因素增加、不确定风险上升。美国强化对霸权的护持,在努力维系原有同盟体系的同时,开始搭建新的安全架构,导致大国竞争继续升温,也使国际安全合作空间进一步收紧。地缘博弈在一些地区引发紧张和冲突,潜藏着较大的失控危险,也孕育着新的分化组合。国际安全治理存在诸多缺失,原有的秩序出现松动和失效,新的规范又难以确立。总的来说,国际关系不断进化的趋势没有改变,全球范围内对推进合作、强化协调的需求相应增加。